Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will respond to the most recent World University rankings which showed the universities here have slipped again; the steps he is taking to address the impact that reduced staff numbers and increasing student numbers are having on standards in our higher education sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41930/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Under the 2012 QS World University rankings, Ireland has 5 universities in the world's top 400 and 8 in the top 700. 3 Irish institutions were placed lower in 2012 than in 2011, 3 were placed higher and 2 showed no change in placement. There continues to be significant debate around the relative importance attached to rankings criteria and on their capacity to fully capture the quality of what is on offer in higher education institutions. A range of factors can influence an institution placement from one year to another across the various different ranking systems, having regard to the different criteria employed and the relative performance of other institutions.

Efficiency improvements across Irish higher education institutions have been a necessary part of their response to the changed economic climate. In this regard, staffing reductions have been achieved simultaneously with increases in student numbers and efficiency gains have been delivered for the benefit of Irish students and Irish taxpayers.